On Tue, 15 Nov 2005 18:15:51 -0500, Matt Colie wrote:


As opposed to the "Bermuda" or "Marconi" that evolved in the late 19th
century, you could get more sail area for the same mast. Close hauled and
beating, you pay for it. The weight aloft is some part of the issue, but
the whole top of the sail is in the wind shadow of the gaff and the two
halyard's tackle.

A Proposal - with modern materials:

I bet one could - make a gaff that had an aerodynamic section, and hoist
it and the throat with winches and single runs of "spider" line - boof
goes that issue.
Now, with the software top design sails that runs on a PC, you could cut a
sail that really worked.

You make a point. Modern technology has been focused on the Bermuda, and
the other sailplans keep falling farther behind. One has to wonder, if
that same development had been given to other plans, junk, lateen, sprit,
where they would stand today.